This study aimed to assess the population biology and reproduction of the fiddler crab Uca chlorophthalmus at its limit of geographical distribution, Saco da Inhaca mangrove, southern Mozambique. Monthly samples were conducted at low tide periods between January and December 2003. The size distributions showed uni- and bimodal patterns, with males reaching larger sizes than ovigerous and non-ovigerous females. Females were slightly more abundant than males, but the overall sex ratio (1:1.01) did not differ significantly from 1:1. Uca chlorophthalmus displays continuous reproductive patterns with peaks of breeding in March and December. Moreover, linear correlations revealed that breeding in this crab is controlled by both temperature and rainfall. Similarly, juvenile recruitment was constant, but was more intense in winter (May–July). Brood size was positively associated with female size. Timing of the observed breeding pattern in the study area may enhance reproductive output and recruitment of the species.

On 30 July 1955 Dr J. H. Fraser, of the Scottish Home Department, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, sent to the British Museum for determination two adult females of a penaeid prawn collected at 01.56–02.0 h B.S.T. near the surface (15 fm.) at Rosemary Knoll, to the north-west of the Outer Hebrides, on 22 July 1955. The actual depth at this locality, 59° 12′ N., 10° 09′ W., is 229 fm (419 m). These specimens were identified by one of us (R. W. I.) as Funchalia woodwardi Johnson. Later the senior author confirmed this determination and wrote to Dr Fraser as follows:

The forkbeard, Phycis phycis, is an important commercial species in Portugal; however, little information is available on its biology. Age and growth of the forkbeard from Portuguese continental waters were studied using 687 otoliths from specimens caught between May 2011 and December 2012. Otoliths were transversally sectioned, and assigned ages were validated by marginal increment analysis and edge analysis, and indices of precision were also calculated to corroborate ageing within and between readers. Validation techniques showed that an annual growth increment is formed every year, corresponding to the succession of an opaque and a translucent growth zone. Specimens ranged from 15.5 to 67.1 cm total length (TL), and their estimated ages ranged between 0 and 18 years. The forkbeard is a relatively slow growing, long lived species, that does not show sexual dimorphism in growth. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for forkbeard from the Portuguese continental waters were L∞ = 75.14 cm TL, k = 0.10 yr−1 and t0 = −2.09 yr.

The effects of nutrient additions and zooplankton excretion products upon carbon fixation rates in the phytoplankton present at Station L 4 in the English Channel during the summer and autumn of 1979 have been studied. Nitrate, ammonium, urea, phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate and the excretion products when added individually all caused photosynthesis to be stimulated, and the result of the simultaneous addition of nitrate and phosphate indicated that their effects were additive. Germanic acid, which inhibits photosynthesis mainly in diatoms, removed the stimulatory effect of the nitrogen supplements, indicating that they were utilized mostly by the diatoms; the higher fixation rates caused by the phosphate enrichments were, however, decreased by the same proportion as the unenriched controls when germanic acid was present, suggesting that the whole of the phytoplankton population was phosphorus-limited. This was supported by the finding that glucose-6-phosphate stimulated carbon fixation in all of the phytoplankton.

The excretion products, even at concentrations likely to be produced in the sea, stimulated carbon fixation, and it has been calculated that zooplankton-regenerated nitrogen and phosphorus compounds could supply the amounts needed to maintain primary production during the summer period.

Nutrient additions and zooplankton excretion products had little effect upon carbon fixation in the autumn samples, presumably because the higher nutrient levels then present in the water exceeded the requirements of the phytoplankton.

It has been concluded that the predominance of the sub-10 μ microflagellates in the summertime is probably due to their ability to utilize more efficiently than the other types of phytoplankton the low levels of nutrients which become available due to regeneration.

The first species ofLamellisabella to be described from the Atlantic Ocean has rows of small teeth on the tentacles. It occurs at about 4000 m depth in the Bay of Biscay, and its range probably extends along the continental rise at least as far south as the Gulf of Guinea.

Krapp-Schickel (1975) described three closely related species of Leucothoe Leach, which together make up a Leucothoe lilljeborgi species complex (L. lilljeborgi Boeck, L. incisa Robertson, L. occulta Krapp-Schickel) in European waters. Of these, the two species L. lilljeborgi and L. incisa have caused considerable problems to taxonomists. As pointed out by Lincoln (1979), ‘There has been a lot of confusion over the identification of lilljeborgi and incisa and it would be advisable to treat earlier records with caution.’ Despite Lincoln's (1979) work, however, the problem persists, several workers (P. G. Moore & J. M. C. Holmes, personal communications) having noted forms apparently intermediate between these two species.

In order to clarify the situation, we have examined material from localities in Ireland and Britain. It is clear that the existence of apparent ‘intermediates’ is due to unfortunate choice of key characters by Lincoln, one of which requires phase contrast microscopy for correct determination. In his key to species of Leucothoe (1979, p. 172) he separates the two species by the anterodistal margin of coxa 4 being either angular (lilljeborgi) or rounded (incisa) and by the inner margin of the gnathopod 1 carpal process being either toothed (incisa) or smooth (lilljeborgi) (although in the description of L. lilljeborgi (p. 176) this process is described as weakly crenulate). Thus specimens with toothed gnathopod 1 carpal process and angular coxa 4 anterodistal margin, appear to be intermediate. It is apparent from our studies, that both L. lilljeborgi and L. incisa have a toothed gnathopod 1 carpal process, but that the structure of the teeth is quite different as revealed by phase contrast microscopy.

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) was used to investigate the relationships of members of the genus Fucus (F. spiralis, F. veskulosus, F. ceranoides and F. serratus), and between F. spiralis and F. spiralis forma nanus. Fucus spiralis and F. spiralis forma nanus were not separable by PyMS and are thus a single species. Fucus spiralis, F. veskulosus, F. ceranoides and F. serratus were separable and their status as species confirmed. The pattern of relatedness between these species suggests a re-evaluation of their evolutionary history in that F. spiralis, F. vesiculosus and F. serratus are more similar to one another than to F. ceranoides. Pyrolysis mass spectrometry was also used to investigate the position of plants identified as putative hybrids between F. spiralis and F. vesiculosus. These plants were found to be intermediate between the two species thus confirming morphological evidence.

The commonest column colours of Actinia equina (Anthozoa: Cnidaria) are various shades of dark red or brown. However, these colour forms conceal genetically differentiated upper (U), mid (M) and lower (L) shore morphs. It is now evident that these morphs have differing ecological requirements and probably constitute different biological species. Identification by examination of diagnostic gene loci is not practicable for most ecological purposes. The L morphs can be readily identified, but there is no known morphological character to distinguish reliably between the U and M morphs. A study of acrorhagial characters indicates that, whilst neither the type, number, colour nor size of the acrorhagi themselves were diagnostic, there is a clear difference between the U and M morphs in the size of the holotrichs (a category of nematocyst). The holotrichs were significantly smaller in the U morph than in either of the other two morphs. In the M and L morphs the holotrichs did not differ significantly in size.

Data are presented on the lipid composition of Balanus balanus spermatozoa.

Lecithin is the major lipid and little plasmalogen is present.

The results are discussed in relation to what is known of other spermatozoa, both vertebrate and invertebrate.

Some data on the inorganic and organic constituents of Balanus balanus seminal plasma have been given by Barnes (1962 a, 1963); lipids were shown to be present in the plasma and are a well-known constituent of the spermatozoa of other animals (Mann, 1964). In view of the relatively small amount of data on the detailed phospholipid composition of invertebrate spermatozoa the opportunity was taken during the investigation reported in the previous paper (Dawson & Barnes, 1966) to examine the spermatozoa of Balanus balanus. The results are, however, best presented and discussed separately. The results are given in Table 1.

The crab whose habits I now describe has not previously been recorded as an inhabitant of British seas. I found two specimens, both male, imbedded in a patch of coarse shell sand on the south side of Drake's Island at low water, spring tides: one on August 11th, 1896, and the other on the following day.

Seasonal variation in the abundance of marine plankton taxa is commonly expressed in the form of ‘mean annual cycles', in which the mean abundance over several years for a particluar season is plotted against the time of year. Typically, such mean annual cycles are used to compare patterns between different spatial locations. We wish to argue, however, that this can be very misleading since the shape of the underlying seasonal cycle itself may change with time as well as location. Thus, it is possible that the mean annual cycle may never actually occur in the environment in any location, nor need it characterize the underlying cyclicity in any one year. Moreover, ignoring changes in the shape of seasonal cycles over time can obscure important demographic shifts in plankton populations. It is therefore essential to test statistically for any changes in the shape of annual cycles before assuming their stability through time. Here we report on continuous plankton recorder (CPR) data of the calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus in which there is a demonstrable change over time in the pattern of seasonal fluctuations in abundance, and we discuss briefly the demographic implications of this change.

The waters off north-west Scotland are known to provide important habitat for the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Between October 2008 and April 2011, systematic land-based surveys were carried out to assess the seasonal occurrence, group size and group behaviours of both species in a study area located off Melvaig, near Gairloch. Data were collected on 47 separate days, with a total of 4543 minutes of survey effort (in sea states ≤3) recorded during the spring months and 8204 minutes of effort during the autumn. A total of 189 sightings of marine fauna were recorded, comprising 126 cetacean sightings, 50 seal sightings and 13 sightings of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus). Six species of cetacean were identified, with most sightings comprising harbour porpoise (N = 72) or minke whale (N = 38). Harbour porpoise abundance was higher in autumn than in spring and there was a variation between years in numbers of minke whales sighted. In porpoises, sea state and cloud cover both influenced sightings and increasing sea state influenced survey area. Foraging behaviour was exhibited in 13% of harbour porpoise sightings and 34% of minke whale sightings. Results demonstrate a regular occurrence of harbour porpoises and minke whales in nearshore waters off Gairloch. Densities are comparable to boat surveys in the region and so support the use of land-based watches as a potential longer-term monitoring method for these species in coastal waters. Given the regular use of this area by these two European Protected Species, as well as the occurrence of a range of human activities potentially affecting them in the region, it may be appropriate to consider protecting this area for their conservation.

1. Photo-electric cells of the rectifier type are useful for approximate measurements of light intensity, in air or under water, using a lowresistance galvanometer, the current through which may be reduced by a special shunt keeping the circuit resistance constant.

2. Such an arrangement has proved serviceable for shore work, a light gun-metal photometer, housing a cuprous oxide cell, having been carried about by a diver.

3. These rectifier cells can also be used at sea, but instead of the current, the E.M.F. is determined by means of the potentiometer outfit as used at sea in previous years.

The vitamin B12 concentration in sea water is so very low that only the most sensitive microbiological assay techniques are likely to be capable of measuring it, but the salt concentration is so high as to be inhibitory to most of the organisms conventionally used for the microbiological assay of the vitamin. Nevertheless, the consideration that vitamin B12 concentration may have an influence on the amounts and types of life present in sea areas has persuaded several investigators to attempt its measurement.

The methods so far employed have each their own advantages and dis-advantages (Droop, 1954, 1955; Lewin, 1954; Sweeney, 1954; Cowey, 1956; Adair & Vishniac, 1958). The method to be described here offers advantages in sensitivity, permitting direct measurement of the vitamin in small quantities of oceanic waters after further dilution; samples to be measured pass through comparatively few different containers and thus there is less risk of their accumulating adventitious vitamin; simple and easily cleaned apparatus is used, and much less bench-work is involved than when methods other than dilution are used for lowering the salt concentration.

Many pinnipeds travel long distances between breeding and feeding grounds in some cases showing remarkable homing abilities (James & Dykes, 1978). Very little is known about the methods they use to plot their course but if they were aware of their rate of movement, this ability could conceivably assist them. The following procedure which was undertaken with a captive male harbour seal (Phoca vitulina Linnaeus) demonstrated that the animal was able to determine his swimming speed.

The seal was first trained to swim at any speed through ten hoops 48 cm in diameter submerged at equal intervals around the periphery of an 8 m oval tank filled with sea water to a depth of 1.2 m. Each trial consisted of one circuit of the tank, and always began at the same hoop. A screen preventing the seal from going through this start hoop was removed to indicate the onset of each trial. The seal was then trained to swim the 17 m course maintaining a speed of 6 km/h. The experimenter observed from a bridge suspended over the tank, and measured the animal's speed by listening to a series of tones. These tones were audible only to the experimenter and were timed such that if the seal were swimming at 6 km/h, he would reach each hoop at the same moment the experimenter heard the tone. A buzzer was sounded whenever the animal swam at less than the required speed, and a whistle was blown if he were moving too quickly.

A formal description of Rosalina leei sp.nov. (Foraminifera) includes an account of the great morphological variation found among adult agamonts obtained over a period of 14 months from clone cultures. Variation in chamber number, direction of coiling, overall shape, the degree of inflation of the final chamber and suture characters are detailed.

Eudendrium moulouyensis is a zooxanthellate hydroid originally described from the Chafarinas Islands (Alboran Sea, south-western Mediterranean) in summer 1991. According to the original description, this species can be identified due to the occurrence of symbiotic zooxanthellae in the entire endodermal layer of the colony (gastrodermis and tentacle endodermis), a unique feature among the Mediterranean Eudendrium species. However, several aspects of its life cycle and the extent of its phenotypical variability are still unknown. Since winter 2004, colonies of E. moulouyensis were recorded throughout the year from 0.5 m to 30 m depth from the southern Adriatic Sea (Otranto Channel) and the Gibraltar Strait (Alboran Sea). Additional specimens were collected from the northern Adriatic (Vis, Croatia), Sicily Channel (Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands), and western Sardinia (Costa Paradiso). These findings offered the opportunity to describe for the first time the full life cycle and to elucidate several biological aspects related to phenotypical variation of colony morphology, vertical zonation, seasonality, zooxanthellae–polyp relationship, and cnidome morphology and distribution. The number and morphology of male gonophores per reproductive polyp is described here for the first time, providing a useful taxonomic character to easily discriminate Myrionema amboinense from E. moulouyensis. From the available information, the occurrence of M. amboinense in the Mediterranean Sea should be regarded as doubtful, if they are not accompanied by observations of cnidome, male gonophores or distinctly separate tentacles whorls.

We examined habitat, population size-structure, colour dimorphism, reproductive behaviour, arm loss and the relation between arm regeneration to pyloric caeca indices in populations at Whitford Rock (WR) and Port Beach (PB) in January 2009. The sediment was fine sand at WR and a mix of larger particles at PB. Individuals at PB were predominantly orange and more uniform in colour than those at WR, which were predominantly grey. Body size and pyloric caeca index of individuals at WR were greater than those of individuals at PB, indicating the nutritional condition was better at WR. This suggests the quantity or quality of food at WR was better. Organic matter of the pyloric caeca and body wall of intact and regenerating individuals at both sites were similar, indicating loss of an arm did not affect gross proximate composition of the organs. Sea stars with regenerating arms made up 5.4 and 8.4 % of the populations observed. Despite the very small size of the gonads, some individuals were in the pseudocopulatory position, indicating this behaviour occurs even when gametes are not present. In every case observed, the male of the pseudocopulating pair was situated above the female. Given the abundance of this species in nearshore habitats dominated by sediment, it is likely to be ecologically important. However much of the biology and ecology of the species, even its diet, remain unknown. This together with its unusual mode of reproductive behaviour involving pseudocopulation, which is only known from two other species of asteroids, underscore the need for more research on Archaster angulatus.

A new species of Sphaerodoridae (Annelida: Polychaeta), Sphaerodoropsis solis sp. nov., is described from the Challenger Plateau in the Tasman Sea, south-west Pacific. It is the third species of the genus with ventral macrotubercles and is further characterized by the lack of dorsal papillae and the specific arrangement pattern of ventral papillae. A character indicating sexual dimorphism, that has been observed in three morphologically similar species, S. arctowskyensis Hartmann-Schröder & Rosenfeldt, 1988, S. bisphaeroserialis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1974c), and S. garciaalvarezi Moreira, Cacabelos & Troncoso, 2004, is confirmed for S. solis sp. nov. Besides S. solis sp. nov., S. arctowskyensis and S. parva (Ehlers, 1913) are newly recorded from the Challenger Plateau and the East Campbell Plateau in the south-west Pacific. An updated key for the genus Sphaerodoropsis is provided.